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German Universities Excellence Initiative

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The Excellence Initiative of the German Council of Science and Humanities and the German Research Foundation (DFG) aims to promote cutting-edge research and to create outstanding conditions for young scholars at universities, to deepen cooperation between disciplines and institutions, to strengthen international cooperation of research, and to enhance the international appeal of excellent German universities. It is the result of lengthy negotiations between the federal government and the German states.[1]

Since almost all German universities are public (most private universities do not have the official German "Universitätsstatus"), and therefore mainly paid by taxes and generally egalitarian, there is no German Ivy League of private higher education institutions. However, the Excellence Initiative aims to strengthen some selected public universities more than others in order to raise their international visibility. Thus, the German "Universities of Excellence" are sometimes considered the German Ivy League of public institutions, and these universities are commonly referred to by the media as "elite universities".[2][3][4] The initiative is conducted by the DFG together with the German Science and Humanities Council (WR). More than 30 universities in total received funding. It includes three lines of funding:

  1. The establishment of more than 40 research schools for young scientists and PhD candidates, which will receive €1 million each per year.
  2. The creation of thirty so-called Clusters of Excellence, that connect universities with leading German research institutes and businesses. Annually, these clusters will receive around €6.5 million each to fund their work.
  3. The selection of 11 Universities of Excellence, which will be funded highly for their "future concepts", i.e., institutional strategies to promote top-level university research.[1] Particularly this third line of funding has drawn appreciable international attention, both in academia and media.[2]

Altogether €2.7 billion (€1.9 billion for 2007–2012) of additional funds will be distributed over the coming five years, most of this coming from the federal government. The WR is responsible for the third line of funding, and the DFG is responsible for the first and second lines of funding.

Results

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Winners: Future Concept 2019 (Current projects)

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11 future concepts across 13 universities were selected for funding in 2019.[5] Six universities retained their status for a third time: RWTH Aachen, FU Berlin (as part of the Berlin University Alliance), Heidelberg University, University of Konstanz, LMU Munich, and Technical University of Munich. Three further universities retained their status for a second consecutive time: HU Berlin (as part of the Berlin University Alliance), TU Dresden, and the University of Tübingen. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology returned to excellence status for a second time after having been funded in the first round (2006). The three first-time excellence universities are the University of Bonn, University of Hamburg, and TU Berlin (as part of the Berlin University Alliance).

University Title Year of Award
RWTH Aachen University The Integrated Interdisciplinary University of Science and Technology: Knowledge, Impact, Networks 2007/2012/2019
Berlin University Alliance Crossing Boundaries toward an Integrated Research Environment 2007/2012/2019
University of Bonn WE invest in people – WE foster networks – WE create impact 2019
TU Dresden TUD 2028 Synergy and beyond 2012/2019
University of Hamburg A Flagship University: Innovation and Cooperation for a Sustainable Future 2019
Heidelberg University The comprehensive research university Heidelberg: The future since 1386 2007/2012/2019
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology The Research University in the Helmholtz Association: Living the Change 2006/2019
University of Konstanz creative.together 2007/2012/2019
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich LMUexcellent - A new perspective 2006/2012/2019
Technical University of Munich TUM. The Entrepreneurial University: Innovation by Talents, Excellence, and Responsibility 2006/2012/2019
University of Tübingen Research – Relevance – Responsibility: Open to New Challenges and a Global Scope of Action 2012/2019

Winners: Future Concept 2012–2019 (Completed projects)

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Out of the 140 universities in Germany 11 universities were chosen, among them five new winners (HU Berlin, University of Bremen, University of Cologne, TU Dresden, University of Tübingen) and six title holders: RWTH Aachen, FU Berlin, Heidelberg University, University of Konstanz, LMU Munich, and Technical University of Munich. As in 2006 and 2007, also other universities were awarded for special clusters of excellence and renowned graduate schools.

University Title Year of Award
RWTH Aachen University RWTH 2020: Meeting Global Challenges 2007
Freie Universität Berlin International Network University 2007
Humboldt University of Berlin Education through science 2012
University of Bremen AMBITIOUS AND AGILE 2012
University of Cologne Meeting the Challenge of Change and Complexity 2012
TU Dresden The synergetic university 2012
Heidelberg University Heidelberg: Realizing the Potential of a Comprehensive University 2007
University of Konstanz Model Konstanz - towards a culture of creativity 2007
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich LMUexcellent: Working brains – Networking minds – Living knowledge 2006
Technical University of Munich TUM. The Entrepreneurial University 2006
University of Tübingen Research − Relevance − Responsibility 2012

Winners: Future Concept 2006/2007–2012 (Completed projects)

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University Title Year of Award
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich LMUexcellent: Working brains – Networking minds – Living knowledge 2006
Technical University of Munich TUM. The Entrepreneurial University 2006
University of Karlsruhe A Concept for the Future of the University of Karlsruhe. The Foundation of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) 2006
RWTH Aachen University RWTH 2020: Meeting Global Challenges 2007
Freie Universität Berlin International Network University 2007
University of Freiburg Windows for Research, New Universitas 2007
University of Göttingen Göttingen. Tradition – Innovation – Autonomie 2007
Heidelberg University Heidelberg: Realizing the Potential of a Comprehensive University 2007
University of Konstanz Model Konstanz - towards a culture of creativity 2007

The funding for a future concept does often, but not necessarily result in a superior overall budget compared to other German universities. For example, due to its small size, the University of Constance is, despite this additional funding, not included in the top 20 funded universities in Germany.[citation needed]

Current international standing

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According to the Third European Report on Science & Technology Indicators, an official document compiled by the European Commission, four of the Universities of Excellence are among Europe's top 10 universities: Technical University of Munich (joint 3rd), Freiburg (joint 6th), Karlsruhe (joint 6th), and Heidelberg (joint 9th).[6][7]

In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2012, Technical University of Munich (53), LMU Munich (60), Heidelberg (62), and Freiburg (99) are included in the global top 100, heading the field of German universities by those criteria.[8]

Eight of the eleven Universities of Excellence are included in the world's top 250 universities, according to the QS World University Ranking 2012: Technical University of Munich (53); Heidelberg (55); LMU Munich (60); Free University of Berlin (87); Humboldt University of Berlin (130); Tübingen (144); RWTH Aachen (150); Cologne (247). The Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2012 ranks 8 of these 11 Universities of Excellence among the world's 250 top universities: LMU Munich (45); Heidelberg (73); Technical University of Munich (88); Humboldt University of Berlin (109); Free University of Berlin (151); RWTH Aachen (168); Tübingen (187); Konstanz (194).

Federal Education Minister Annette Schavan said following the awards ceremony, "The excellence initiative is writing scientific history. Research at German universities finds itself on a successful, international course."[9]

Winners: Graduate Schools (Completed projects)

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Source: Federal Ministry of Education and Research[10]

(coordinating) University Graduate School Year of Award
RWTH Aachen University Aachen Institute for Advanced Study in Computational Engineering Science 2006
Freie Universität Berlin Graduate School of North American Studies (John F. Kennedy-Institute for North American Studies) 2006
Humboldt University of Berlin Berlin School of Mind and Brain 2006
Technische Universität Berlin (FU Berlin, HU Berlin) Berlin Mathematical School 2006
Ruhr University Bochum Ruhr University Research School 2006
University of Bonn Bonn Graduate School of Economics 2006
University of Bremen Global Change in the Marine Realm 2006
TU Dresden Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering 2006
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies 2006
University of Freiburg Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine 2006
University of Gießen International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture 2006
Hannover Medical School Hannover Biomedical Research School 2006
Heidelberg University Heidelberg Graduate School of Fundamental Physics
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics 2006
University of Mannheim Empirical and Quantitative Methods in the Economic and Social Sciences 2006
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences 2006
Technical University of Munich International Graduate School of Science and Engineering 2006
Saarland University Multimodal Computing and Interaction 2006
University of Würzburg Graduate School for Life Sciences 2006
University of Bayreuth Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies 2007
Freie Universität Berlin Muslim Cultures and Societies: Unity and Diversity 2007
Freie Universität Berlin Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies 2007
Humboldt University of Berlin Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies 2007
Humboldt University of Berlin Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences 2007
University of Bielefeld Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology 2007
University of Bonn Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy 2007
University of Bremen Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences 2007
Darmstadt University of Technology Graduate School of Computational Engineering "Beyond Traditional Sciences" 2007
University of Göttingen Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences 2007
Heidelberg University Heidelberg Graduate School of Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Sciences 2007
Heidelberg University The Hartmut Hoffmann-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology 2007
University of Jena Jena School for Microbial Communication 2007
University of Kiel Graduate School for Integrated Studies of Human Development in Landscapes 2007
University of Konstanz Konstanz Research School "Chemical Biology" 2007
University of Leipzig Building with Molecules and Nano-Objects 2007
University of Lübeck Graduate School for Computing in Medicine and Life Sciences 2007
University of Mainz Materials Science in Mainz 2007
Saarland University Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science 2007
University of Stuttgart Graduate School for advanced Manufacturing Engineering in Stuttgart (GSaME) 2007
University of Ulm International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm 2007

Winners: Clusters of Excellence (Partly completed projects)

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(coordinating) University Clusters of Excellence Year of Award
RWTH Aachen University Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries 2006
RWTH Aachen University Ultra High-Speed Mobile Information and Communication (UMIC) 2006
RWTH Aachen University Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass 2007
Freie Universität Berlin / Humboldt University of Berlin Topoi. The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations 2006
University of Bonn Mathematics: Foundations, Models, Applications 2006
TU Dresden From Cells to Tissues to Therapies: Engineering the Cellular Basis of Regeneration 2006
TU Dresden Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed)
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Macromolecular Complexes (CEF) 2006
University of Gießen Cardio-Pulmonary System 2006
University of Göttingen Microscopy at the Nanometer Range 2006
Hannover Medical School From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy 2006
Heidelberg University Cellular Networks: From Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms to a Quantitative Understanding of Complex Functions 2006
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Center for Functional Nanostructures 2006
University of Kiel The Future Ocean 2006
University of Konstanz Cultural Foundations of Social Integration 2006
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich 2006
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Munich Center for Advanced Photonics 2006
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Nanosystems Initiative Munich 2006
Technical University of Munich Cognition for Technical Systems 2006
Technical University of Munich Origin and Structure of the Universe – The Cluster of Excellence for Fundamental Physics 2006
Freie Universität Berlin Languages of Emotion 2007
Humboldt-Universität Berlin NeuroCure: Towards a Better Outcome of Neurological Disorders 2007
Technische Universität Berlin Unifying Concepts in Catalysis 2007
University of Bielefeld Cognitive Interaction Technology 2007
University of Bremen The Ocean in the Earth System 2007
Darmstadt University of Technology Smart Interfaces: Understanding and Designing Fluid Boundaries 2007
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Engineering of Advanced Materials – Hierarchical Structure Formation for Functional Devices 2007
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Formation of Normative Orders 2007
University of Freiburg Centre for Biological Signalling Studies – From Analysis to Synthesis 2007
University of Hamburg Integrated Climate System Analysis and Prediction (CliSAP) 2007
University of Hannover Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research (QUEST) 2007
Heidelberg University Asia and Europe in a Global Context: Shifting Asymmetries in Cultural Flows (EXC270) 2007
University of Kiel Inflammation at Interfaces 2007
University of Cologne Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases 2007
University of Münster Religion and Politics in Pre-Modern and Modern Cultures 2007
Saarland University Multimodal Computing and Interaction 2007
University of Stuttgart Simulation Technology 2007
University of Tübingen CIN – Centre for Integrative Neuroscience 2007
University of Hamburg The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI) 2012
RWTH Aachen University Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries 2012
RWTH Aachen University Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass 2012
Freie Universität Berlin / Humboldt University of Berlin NeuroCure 2012
Freie Universität Berlin / Humboldt University of Berlin TOPOI - The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations 2012

Reception

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Whether the Excellence Initiative has had a positive effect is currently a matter of debate. A report by the WZB Berlin Social Science Centre indicates that the program failed to create more diverse education options and produced little in the way of lasting change.[11] Additionally, the Goethe Institut claims that an additional criticism is that "competition up to now has focussed exclusively on the research rather than the teaching at universities", that prevailing qualitative imbalances in East and West German education systems may potentially be perpetuated via the program (by favoring more established Western universities over their younger Eastern counterparts), and, furthermore, that the funding may actually be insufficient to achieve the goal of creating "globally competitive universities".[12]

However, an international commission led by physicist Dieter Imboden of the ETH Zurich in Switzerland praised the program, saying it had a "very positive" influence on higher education in Germany, and recommending it be extended and further developed.[13]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b "German Science Council: The Excellence Initiative". Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  2. ^ a b "A German Ivy League Takes Shape". SCIENCE / AAAS. 13 October 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  3. ^ Leffers, Jochen (19 October 2007). "Elite-Unis: Jubel in den Südstaaten". Spiegel Online. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  4. ^ Vogel, G. (2006). "HIGHER EDUCATION: A German Ivy League Takes Shape". Science. 314 (5798): 400. doi:10.1126/science.314.5798.400. PMID 17053117. S2CID 153671746.
  5. ^ "Excellence Strategy". Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  6. ^ "CORDIS: Science and Technology Indicators: Snapshots" (PDF). Third European Report on Science and Technology Indicators. Retrieved 16 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "CORDIS: Science and Technology Indicators: full version". Third European Report on Science and Technology Indicators. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  8. ^ "ARWU 2012". Academic Ranking of World Universities 2012 ("Shanghai Ranking"). Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Comment of Anette Schavan on the results of the Excellence Initiative". Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  10. ^ Bundesbildungsministerium: "Exzellenzinitiative" Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Abschnitt Graduiertenschulen
  11. ^ "Multibillion-Dollar Program Has Had Little Effect at German Universities, Report Says". The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  12. ^ Himmelrath, Armin. "Two Years Excellence Initiative: A Balance". Goethe Institut. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  13. ^ Vogel, Gretchen (2016). "Germany's excellence program gets good grades". Science. doi:10.1126/ade5025.